Rectangular cleaners



Sept. 1, 1959 w. w. LowTHER RECTANGULAR .CLEANERS 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 28, 1957 Invenzo'r Sept. 1, 1959 w. w. LOWTHER RECTANGULAR CLEANERS Filed Jan. 28, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,2W vf/v ,Z ww .wey no n el. W WM fd ff f um y@ .m2 uw sept l, 1959 w. -w. LowTHl-:R- 2,902,112

RECTANGULAR CLEANERS Sept 1, 1959 wfw. LOWTHER 2,902,112

RECTANGULAR CLEANERS Wilfred Z0.' .[Owzef' Sept. 1, 1959 w. w. LOWTHER RECTANGULAR CLEANERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 28, 1957 I?? Ue?? or ZI/Z'red Z Lowa/er re?" 0 varier .It o rfveys Sept. l, 1959 w.w. LowTHl-:R-

RECTANGULAR CLEANERS Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 28, 1957 .n ven fo r Wilfred MZUW/zer y .Parrer Carige? Sept. 1, 1959 w.'w. LOWTHER RECTANGULAR CLEANERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 28, 1957 In ve?? for 0i/fred "Zlowzh er r @ma MJ W P I y 'RECTANGUL'AR CLEANERS Wilfred w. Lowther, chicago, nl., assigner, bymesne assignments, to Industrial Enterprises, Inc., of Illinois, Chicago, Ill., a corporationv of .New York l v,

Application January 28, `19'57, -Serialv No. 636,764

7 Claims. (Cl. 183-15) This is a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 480,154, tiled January 6, 1955, -n'ow Patent No. 2,835,338. 'Ihis invention is in the 'eld of liquid bath air cleaners for use with internal combustion'fengines, although it is not necessarily restricted in this respect.

A primary object of -my linvention is a new and improved liquid bath air cleaner having a rectangular housing, although many, if not all, of the important :features and inventive principles are equally applicable to any coniiguration of housing, such as round or otherwise.

Another object is a liquid bath air cleaner having a built-in after filter beyond the point of liquid pullover during normal operation.

.Another object is a cleaner lof the above type having an .after fil-ter which is graded in .its filtering intensity.

Another object yis Ia cleaner of the abovetype having a cup or liquid sump removably .attached vto its lower end, and having a plurality of filter elements lor cartridges that are removable and insertable through the lower end.

Another object is a liquid .bathair cleaner with a removable sump constructed so that the housing will not drip lon the ground or the vehiclefwhen :the cup 4is removed. i l Y Another object is a liquid bath .air cleaner having .a `removable sump cup with' means to :suspend the .cup below the housing a predetermined distance so that the inner mechanism in the main housing Vmay drip.

Another object is a liquid bath air .cleaner having a chamber or zone to which :dirt and grit wil-l settle and remain undisturbed during normal loperation Jof the unit.

Another yobject is a liquid bath vair cleaner with means for metering the liquid into the moving 4aifr stream.

Another object is a liquid bath air cleaner having removable ilter cartridges or elements constructed so .that air cannot leak past them. v

Another object is an improved type of fastening `means between `the removable cup a-nd the housing.

Another object is a liquid bath air cleaner hav-ing a removable cup constructed so that it can be more easily removed and replaced.

Another `object is a cleaner in which .the inner :cup `can be changed to a larger or smallervl-iquid capacit-y to give a different capacity air cleaner for ldifferent luses.

Another object is a -cleaner of the above type with al plurality of lremovable i'ilter elements and sea-ling means to effect a three-way seal between one or more off the filter elements, outer housing, and the center 'tube so that all air will tlow through the last iilter element.`

Another object .is a cleaner with a plurality of removable filter elements, all -removably held by a central unitary thrust mechanism. y

Another object .is a cleaner with means to prevent .the removable cup from sticking.

Another object isa cleaner with an easily removed 'and replaced inner cup. Y

vAnother object is a cleaner with a novel liquid circu- 1st-anar Pattern.-

Patented Sept. l, 1959 Figure 6 is an enlarged detail, in section, of the after iilter seal shown in Figure 3 Y Figure 7 is a section on line 7-47 of Figure 2; Figure 8 is a modified form; and Figure 9 is a further modification.

The unit includes a housing H enclosing a lilter medium F disposed in an air passage which includes lan inlet I and an outlet O with a fcup IC -on the lower end of the housing. While I have shown a rectangular housing, it should 'be understood that many of the principles, purposes and inventive concepts can be applied equal-ly well to a conventional circular housing, a hat-type air cleaner, or various other forms, and therefore the rectangular unit selected for disclosure should not necessarily be interpreted in a restricted sense.

The inlet I is formed from a generally upright center tube 1@ which terminates at 12 in Figure 2. The housing.

H is closed on top :by a top cap 14, which may 'be .suitably welded or otherwise secured to the housing and to the inlet and outlet, and may have a conically shaped brace 15 connected to the center tube.

The iilter medium F includes a plurality of lter elements which are positioned in the housing, each having a :generally rectangular exterior with a central somewhat circular opening for the center tube. .All of these elements `are removable and insertable through Ithe end of the housing which is closed by the .removable cup C. The top element 16 is an after cleaner or filter having an inner cylindrical body 18 and an outer rectangular body 2@ which is bent over the top at 21, and a spider is formed by perforating the ktop which terminates overlapping the inner body 18, these parts being connected along their lower edge by a spider element 22 in Figure 5. The lower inner and outer edges are formed into flanges at 24 and '26 which are spot welded or otherwise suitably connected with an outer ring 27 providing channels or seats which carry upper and lower, inner and outer gaskets 28, 29, 30 and 31. Each of the gaskets may be formed vas a continuous piece splice-molded under heat and pressure. The yseats for the inner gaskets are afforded by an inner ring 32. A retaining ring or bracket 34 iswelded or otherwise suitably secured to `the center tube to engage the inner gasket while the outer gasket engages a shoulder 36 formed on the top cap 14. Instead of a shoulder, the top cap might have a ring or stopl welded to its inner surface to engage the after lter. The a'fter iilter is provided with upper and lower screens 38 and 40 which may be expanded metal or Wire or any suitable screen, to retain the filtering medium in the housing. Generally, the filtering medium ofthe dry after filter may be an animal hair or felt which has a relatively line screening intensity. I iind it advantageous to provide several layers of different filtering mediums in the fafter lter to acquire a graduated filtering :fintensity which becomes more dense in the direction of fair ilow. This type of graded or graduated pack remarkably improves the eiiiciency of the unit.

A main filter element 42 is positioned below the after lter 16 and includes vinner and outer body members 44 and 46 .interconnected at their .ends by upper and lower lspider members 48 and 50 with .suitable expanded Wire screens 52 and 54 or the like to retain the filter medium. The upper edge of the inner and outer body members are anged or suitably formed, as at 56 and 58, to engage the gaskets on the after lter to form an airtight joint or seal. The lter medium in the main element may be coiled copper wire, springs, or the like, or any suitable relatively coarse filtering material which is capable of being spread evenly throughout the element. The inner housing 44 of the main filter element has a lower tubular extension 60 with a reduced cross section for reasons set forth hereinbelow.

A scrubber or lower removable element 62 positioned below the main element is formed with an inner housing or tube 64 and an outer body 66 with upper and lower spiders 68 and 70 and upper and lower screens 72 and 74 of the expanded wire type or any other suitable variety. The inner and outer edges of the lower spider are suitably -formed or indented, as at 76 and 78, to provide one or more passages for return liquid ilow from the lter medium. The inner housing or tube 64 extends downwardly beyond the scrubber as shown at 80.

The lower end of the housing is provided with a gasket retainer 82 in the form of a channel as a seat for a suitable gasket 84 opening downwardly. The upper edge 86 of the liquid cup C is rolled or beaded to engage the gasket. The lower edges or sides of the cup are beveled or slanted inwardly along the longitudinal sides as at 88 for reasons set forth hereinbelow.

The main cup C carries an inner cup 90 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a baille 92. The bale may be formed with a central opening 94 having a plurality of slots or spaces 96 dened by projections 97 on the inner cup so that the slots open upwardly and meter liquid into the air stream. The baille extends outwardly and turns up as at 98 to provide a Vertical bafe ring 100 which closely approaches the lter. The ring may have one or more suitable indentations 99 to indicate the normal liquid level. The bottom of the outer cup has a raised portion 101 which is indented at a suitable number of places, as at 102. These indentations or projections mate with corresponding indentations 103 in the bottom of the inner cup, so that the inner cup, when fully seated, will be properly positioned in the outer cup and cannot turn or move out of place. The baille 92 may also have a plurality of suitably positioned openings 104 to allow Ifor the settling out of dirt and foreign matter.

A bracket 105 is suitably welded or otherwise secured in an indentation 106 in the bottom of the outer cup. A jack screw or the like 107 is rigidly held by the bracket and extends through a suitable opening in the inner cup. Washers 108 and 109 are carried on each side of the bottom of the inner cup and a suitable wing nut 110 is carried by the jack screw so that the inner cup ran be fully seated and held in place. The wing nut is formed with a threaded sleeve 112 that extends rotatably through and below the washers so that it will rotate through a raised portion 113 of the inner cup. The Wing nut 110, when rotated, may be integral with the sleeve 112 and, accordingly, the sleeve will be rotated. The washers 108 and 109 on each side of the oor of the cup merely provide rotative support since the sleeve may be olset on both sides of the washers. In a sense, the washers may function as bearings. But the point is that the sleeve may be rotated by the wing nut. The bore of the sleeve is threaded and when the wing nut is rotated, the sleeve may be either screwed up or down on the rigid upstanding jack screw. This, in turn, will either raise or lower the cup.

The filter elements are all removably mounted in the housing by the following mechanism: The after lter 16 carries a ball latch 114 with a spring biased detent 115 as shown in Figures 2 and 5 which snaps over the retainer ring 34. The after lilter is pushed up through the bottom end of the housing until the ball latch snaps over this ring. The spring is strong enough to hold the after lter in position. One or more could be used. To remove the after filter a plurality of handle-type elements or brackets 116 are provided which can be grasped by the user.

The center tube d0 carries a cross bracket 11-8 at its lower end with a longitudinal stud '120 threaded at 122 and reduced in diameter at 124 with a threaded end 126. A bracket 128 mounted on the extension 60 from the main lter element has an internally threaded adapter 130 which screws onto the threaded portion 122 of the stud and rotates in the bracket 128. The adapter may be rotated by a suitable wing nut l132 or the like. The scrubber element 62 carries abracket 134 with a similar internally threaded rotating adapter 136 actuated by a wing nut 138 or the like and is attached to the lower threaded portion 126 of the stud. It should be noted that the extension 80 on the scrubber element, forming an extension of the center tube, extends down to and below the normal liquid level 139 in the cup. The extension 60 on the main element is reduced in cross section so that it telescopes inside of the scrubber element and, if necessary, may be sealed by an O-ring or the like 140.

The center tube carries a vent tube `141 which extends outwardly through a suitable opening 142 which may be used as a vacuum source for removing vapor from the crank case of the engine to which it is attached or as desired.

The removable cup may be attached to the bottom end of the housing by several attaching mechanisms 144, each of which may include upper and lower brackets 146 and 148 mounted on the housing and cup respectively. A machine bolt 150 or the like having an enlarged head 151 may be tted into the open interior of the upper bracket and is held by the inwardly turned tabs 152 shown in Figure 4 which define a front opening `154 on the outside of the bracket. These tabs are stepped at 156 in Figure 2 to provide an abutment. The lower bracket on the cup is similar to the upper bracket and has the central opening 154 so that the bolt 150 can be pivoted into it about its head 151. Each bolt carries a wing nut 158 and a suitable washer 160 to draw the cup up tightly against the gasket structure 84 on the housing.

When the bolts are swung to their outward position, the lower surface of the corner of the head 151 will engage the abutment 156 formed by the notched construction at the same time that its rear edge engages the side of the housing. Thus, the bolt will be held in an outward position. When the cup with a suitable liquid is being mounted on the housing, the bolts and wing nuts will not get in the way of the operator and hinder proper mounting of the cup. When the cup is seated on the housing, the wing nuts and bolts can be flipped inwardly by the operator so that they will pivot through the opening in the face of the lower brackets. The wing nuts can then be turned upward until the cup is firmly seated.

Each attaching bolt and bracket mechanism is provided with a wire bale 162, in Figures 2 and 4, the upper ends of which are turned in and project through openings l164 in the upper bracket to give the bale a pivotal mounting. The bale flares outwardly into a loop at its lower ends around the lower bracket 148 on the cup and around the wing nut and is bent inwardly at 166 to conform generally to the longitudinally depressed or slanted edge of the cup. It should be noted that the cross-piece or bottom of the bracket is a substantial distance below the bracket on the cup, as shown in Figure 4, for reasons to be set forth hereinbelow.

In Figure l, the housing carries a suitable mounting plate 168 with iixed mounting brackets 170 on each side to secure the air cleaner to any suitable structure, such as the frame of a tractor or vehicle.

The wing nuts 158 on the bolts for mounting the cup on the lower end of the housing are formed from two` plates. Two such plates are positioned back to back to formv a central opening or bore and spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured together at 176 in Figure 2. Thus, wing portions 17.8 extend lfrom each side. 'The upper -portion ofthe bore is ysuitably threaded, while the lower portion 182 vis enlarged to form a housing for a bu-rred or upset end 184 on the end of the bolt 150.

In Figure 8 l have shown a modified form in which a sealing assembly 188 may be separate'from the after filter and'includes an annular per-forate ,plate l190 with a circular central opening conforming to the center tube and a rectangular exterior to conform generally to the housing. A gasket of rubber or other suitable rubberlike material 192 is vulcanized or otherwise secured to the outer edge of the plate. The gasket is split so that a portion 194 lies above the plate to seal a anged edge 196 on the after lter and a portion 198 lies below the perforate .plate to seal the top of the main filter element 42. Ihe inner gasket 200 may be formed in the same manner. I iind that this provides a very eifective seal because the gasket, during vulcanizing, will iiow through the perforationsof the plate to form a tight interlock. O'ne or more, probably two, L-shaped bolts 202 are mounted by a bracket 204 through the perforate plate'and have a threaded portion 206 adapted to turn through a nut 208 or the like welded or otherwise secured -to or in the after iilter. The after iilter and perforateplate can thenbe brought together as a unit and mounted assermbled. At the same time, the L-shaped bolts can be. used as'a handle to pull the after filter out of the housing over its detent mechanism 209.

In' Figure l9 I have shown a further variant in which an innerv cup 210 rises in the outer cup C and supports an upwardly extending baiiie ring 212 that may be suitably welded or otherwise connected against a flat portion thereof. The cup 210 has an outstanding ange l21-4 which denes a metering opening 216 with a splash baiiie 218 connected to thej lower iilter element or scrubber. A .plurality of dimples or the like 220 are provided on a at piece `222 of the splashv baii'le which runs roughly parallel to but slightly above and spaced from the flange 214 of 4the inner cup. The fiat piece 222 terminates short of the bailie ring 212 to deiine an upwardly opening slot or opening 224 behind the bale ring 212.

iA suitably shaped ring member 226 is welded-or otherwise secured to the scrubber and extends down to a lip 228 that is in spaced -relation `to the tubular extension of the .scrubber deiining a liquid return passage 230, annular in shape, on the outer surface of the extension. The area 232 above the member 226 functions as an inside reservoir for returning uid from the iilter to the air stream. This uid flows back through the annular slot '230 and sprays into the air stream from the edge 234 of `the extension that may be belled or turned out.

An S-shaped ring member 236 is welded or otherwise secured to the end of the housing forming a downwardly opening continuous slot around the lower end of the housing to accept a gasket or sealing means 238. The splash baiile 218 is welded or otherwise secured to the outer edge of the scrubber as at 240, turned out and perforated as at 242, and then formed into a downwardly opening continuous seat 244 for a smaller Agasket 246.

The upper rolled edge 2'48 of the cup C engages thev smaller gasket 246.

The S-shaped yring 236 provides an upwardly opening seat 250 for clamping means 252 which is `shown as a bolt or the like 254 curved at its upper end at -256 and welded or otherwise suitably secured to a fiat'plate or the like 258, the lower edge of the plate fitting in the seat 250.` The plate extends laterally on veach side of the bolt for a predetermined distance to give firm contact. A bracket 2,60, such as the type shown in the previous embodiment, vmay be attached in a suitable `manner to the lower cup and a wing nut 262, such as the-type previously described, may be used to pull the cup up iirmly against the gasket.

The outer wall of the scrubber or lower iilter element is provided with a plurality of perforations 264 in any suitable pattern, preferably several rows rising up along theA wall. The liquid contained in the moving air in the scrubber will ilow outwardly and will stand in ahead against the outer wall in the area 266. These perforations allow the fluid to flow into the annular slot 268 between the scrubber and the wall of the housing H. The perforations 242 in the splash baille allow the liquid to return to the sump.

In this embodiment, the moving air coming down the center tube turns approximately in the air turn space or zone around the lower edge 234 of the extension. As the air moves through the annular neck between the baiile 212 and member 226, liquid is sprayed into it from both sides, from the outside by the opening 224 and from the inside by the opening 230. The thoroughly saturated air then moves upwardly into the scrubber where its volume expands and pressure decreases. The liquid will have a tendency lto condense in the scrubber and to move both inwardly and outwardly. The outwardly moving portion will stand in a headv in the area or zone 266 and will be allowed to pass through the perforations 264, down the slot between Ithe outer housing of the scrubber and the main housing H, through the perforations in member 242, into the sump. The liquid that turns inwardly and collects in the reservoir or inner zone 232 is again metered back into the air stream between the lower edge of the portion 228 and the bottom edge 234 of the extension. By spraying liquid into the air stream from both inside and loutside of the annular flow or intermediate zone through the neck portion of the path, I thoroughly saturate it. Additionally, by using two return paths or concentric return ring paths, I am able to bring the fluid rapidly back to the sump or the air stream. This is also true of the Figure 2 embodiment.

The particular clamping means in Figure 9 is important because the cup can be disposed in any position on a round cleaner and the clamping means will still be eiective. This is particularly important in a round cleaner, but it Vhas its advantages in a square or rectangular cleaner. Additionally, I provide a double seat and double gasket arrangement lfor the outer edge to prevent leakage of either air or liquid. Further, when the cup is removed by releasing the bolts 254, the splash bae is spot welded to the lower edge of the scrubber and will stay in place. I might add that the cup 210 can be held in place by a jackscrew such as in Figure 2, although this is not necessary.

The bafe `212 may have a straight upper edge but to provide more total length of edge surface, I may scallop or form it into ngers to step up or increase the aspiration of cleaning liquid into the air stream. The same is true of the end 234 of the center tube.

I also may provide a ring 270 against the outer edge of the scrubber which may function as a shelf or support for the liquid collected in the area 266 as it ows back through the perforations 264.

The use, operation and function of my invention are as follows:

I have disclosed and described a rectangular liquid bath cleaner although the inventive principle in many having an inlet and outlet with a plurality of filter ele? ments *disposed in the path. The housing has a removable cup closing its lower end, and all of the filter elements are in cartridge form and are removable and replaceable through the open end of the housing when the cup has been removed. I have shown three such elements, a scrubber element, a main element or main pack, and an after filter element. It should be noted that these three filter elements, although for some purposes more or less could be used, can only be inserted in a predetermined order. Furthermore, it is impossible to insert the elements upside down. The after filter 16 can only be inserted with the ilanged edge down or last so that the ball latch can snap over the retaining ring on the center tube. If the after illter were upside down, the wing nuts and retaining studs for the main element and scrubber would not engage. The same is true of the main element and scrubber. The extensions 60 and 64 prevent them from being inserted incorrectly. It should be noted that these extensions, in effect, form continuations of the center -tube and by the locking means shown in Figure 2, all of the lter elements can be quickly and easily removed, in order, after the cup has been removed.

In both embodiments, air descends, or is drawn, vertically down through the center tube to the bottom of the center or inner cup where it reverses in what I term an air turn zone and flows upwardly in an annular path past the metering openings formed in the baille structure. The cup in effect deilnes a zone for turning the moving air 180 and might be described as a turn Zone. The air picks up liquid from the inner cup and conveys it in a spray form to the scrubber. Furthermore, the baille directs the mixture of air and liquid only to an inner annular zone or area of the scrubber. Thus, the main airllow carrying the liquid rises into the scrubber in a limited and intermediate annular area confined to the region lying within the control band or baille.

The scrubber element overlies or hangs over the baflle so that the liquid with dirt can descend by return ilow to the sump. At the same time the liquid may return to the inside flowing from the inner scrubber housing through the slots or annular passage where it may ilow down the surface of the tubular extension of the scrubber. At one point or another on this extension it will be picked up by the rapidly moving air which is at its highest velocity when moving between the tube and the metering openings, this restriction being in the nature of an annular reduced cross section passage or venturi. In fact, the liquid has a tendency to stand in a head in two rin-gs or columns, one inside the other, in the scrubber. The liquid in the zone Y, during normal operation, will stand also in a head behind the baille which will create pressure at the metering openings in the baille. This further sprays or aspirates liquid into the rapidly moving air so that liquid is returning to the air stream from both sides at the same time. Any sediment or foreign matter will settle out in the bottom of the outer cup from the zone Y, and this is particularly true because the liquid stands in a head behind the baille. The zone Y is, in essence, a quiescent area which receives a return gravity ilow of liquid from the scrubber.

Thus, a deilnite circulation of cleaning liquid is established, starting with the cleaning liquid being lifted from the metering openings and center tube and carried in droplet or aspirated form into the scrubber where it flows or moves outwardly to return to the Zone Y by` on its way to the outlet because the after filter and main elements are tightly sealed by the gasket structure.

By shaping the longitudinal sides of the cup inwardly to form beveled edges as at S8 runnin-g longitudinally along the cup, I provide clearance for the wing nuts. It is, therefore, possible to position thewing nuts above the bottom of the liquid sump and the bolts as close to the side of the housing as possible. This is particularly advantageous as the air cleaner can be more easily packaged and will rest flush on a pallet or carton on the ilat bottom of the cup rather than directly on the wing nuts. Furthermore, the air cleaner, after it has been removed from a vehicle, may be set down on the bottom of the cup without the danger of a heavy impact on the wing nuts, which would cause damage to the air cleaner by bending the supporting brackets.

The upper brackets 146 are formed with notches 0r abutments so that the bolt can be held at an angle while the cup is being replaced. This is particularly desirable as the weight of the cup with the cleaning iluid in it is substantial, and if the bolts dangle directly downwardly, they Iwill severely hamper and interfere with the proper mounting of the cup. The bolts can be easily knocked oil of the abutment by the user after the cup is in position and the bolts will fall or pivot into the slotted lower bracket.

Some of the important features of my invention are as follows:

All of the air drawn through the unit must ilow through the after filter due to the sealing arrangement in Figures 6 or 8. It should be noted that these gaskets form a fourway seal at the after filter, namely, between the after illter and the outer housing, between the after illter and the inner housing, and between the after lter and the main element, and between the main element and the housing.

The inner cup may be changed and a larger or smaller cup connected to the baille so that the liquid capacity of the unit is changed as governed by the intended use of the device. Changing the size of the cup does not vary the quantity of liquid in the sump but it does vary the quantity of liquid exposed to the air stream.

It is important to note that all of the air in the stream passes through the main element while the scrubber has a two or three-way flow, the air and liquid rising in the inner zone, the liquid returning to the quiescent zone Y from the outer portion of the scrubber, and the liquid returning down the extension from the inner reservoirl through the openings 76 or 230.

The modified gasket structure in Figure 8 is also important because the perforate plate forms a tight inter-v lock with the gaskets, both inner and outer, during vulcanizing, and the L-shaped bolts can be used both as handles and as connections between the gasket or seal and the after filter so that they can be mounted as a unit. The gaskets lap both sides of the perforate plate so that the seal is effected both up and down.

The inner ring 34 on the center tube in Figure 6 is slightly above the outer shoulder 36. Thus, when the main illter element is pushed up in the housing and secured in place by the center stud and wing nut 132, it forces the gasket 30 into contact with the outer shoulder 36 first and the central thrust from the wing nut and the center stud forces the gasket 28 into engagement with the center ring 34. By this arrangement a tight seal isv assured between the outer edge of the main filter element, the outer gasket 30, and the ilange 36 on the outer housing. Thus, this structure provides a single operative means for sealing bottom inner and outer gaskets located in the center of the housing, providing a central unitary upward thrust.

The stepped center stud also allows the scrubber to be removed without disturbing the main illter element in any way. The seal of the gasket 28--31 is not disturbed when the scrubber is removed, cleaned and replaced. The scrubber, as its name indicates, catches the majority of the dirt and must be cleaned more often than the other elements.

t should also be noted that the end of the stepped stud is above the lower edge of the main housing H. When the cup and filter elements have beenremoved, the housing can be placed on a fiat surface and the .center stud will not touch the surface, which eliminates any broken parts during manufacture and use.

The inner cup and baffle allow liquid to fill the sump. After extended use, a large amountvof dirt and sediment will collect in the bottom of the cup. This may cause the inner cup to stick. When the liquid is Aflushed out a substantial amount of the foreign matter will remain caked between the inner and outer cups. It can be quite difficult at times to remove the inner cup. On occasion one man is required to hold the outer cup while another man pulls on the inner cup which, when it springs loose all of a sudden, can shower both men with dirty liquid. To prevent this in my cleaner only one man is required. He needs to merely rotate the wing nut, and the cup will be positively lifted in a smooth, unbroken fashion and no violent jerking or spilling will result. At the same time when the cup is filled land the wing nut is turned down, the cup will be fully seated and will not bounce around during operation when the unit is being roughly handled, for example, on a tractor. Additionally, the matched indentation-s and projections 102 and 103 assure that the inner cup will line up perfectly and will not become canted or turned sideways during use.

The rectangular configuration of the housing facilitates the mounting of the unit by the brackets in Figure 1 as compared to a circular housing or other type cleaner.

The wire bales 162 allow the cup to be suspended in spaced relation to the housing so that the cup may collect fluid that drips from inside the filter elements.

The circulation of the liquid is important. To begin with, the air moving through the restrictive annulus around the bottom of the center tube is at its highest velocity so that liquid will be finely sprayed or atomized from both sides. In the scrubber the liquid slows down and may fiow either inwardly or outwardly and collect in the inner and outer Ireservoirs. That portion which returns through the inner passages is again picked up by the air stream which results in a rotary motion. The portion which returns outwardly through the outer passages will return to the air stream through the metering openings, but dust, dirt and sediment will settle out in the bottom of the outer cup. When the cleaner is not in use, dirt in the liquid above the bafiie 92 in Figure 2 will settle through the openings 104 into the bottom of the sump.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, and suggested others, it should be understood that many additional modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may be made without departing from the fundamental theme. I, therefore, wish that my illustrated forms be taken as illustrative and that my invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a liquid bath air cleaner, a housing having an air passage with an inlet and outlet, a cup removably attached to the lower end of the housing and defining a liquid sump with a normal liquid level, means for removably attaching the cup to the lower end of the housing, the inlet for the air passage being defined at least in part by a generally upright center tube, a filter medium in the air passage of the housing `above the cup composed of a plurality of separate filter elements, and attaching means for mounting at least some of the filter elements on the center tube, said attaching means being constructed and arranged so that each filter element is individually connected to the center tube and each filter element individually applies an upward sealing thrust to the filter elements above it, the attaching means including a stud axially mounted in the center tube and extending below it, the stud having threaded portions with different diameters, and threaded collars centrally located in the Afilter elements to match the threaded portions on the stud.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which each filter element has an axial extension arranged to form a continuation of the center tube, the lowermost extension being in the cup below the normal liquid level, the stud terminating above the open end of the housing so that the housing may rest flush on a surface when the cup is removed, the extension of each filter element telescoping into the filter element below it.

3. In a liquid bathair cleaner, a main housing defining a passage for air with an inlet and outlet, the lower end of the housing being generally open, a removable cup attached to the open lower end of the housing adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and having a normal liquid level in the cup, the inlet being defined at least in part by a center tube, means for removably attaching the cup to the housing, a. filter medium removably disposed in the housing above the cup including a plurality of separate filter elements, opposed shoulders between the housing and center tube to function as an abutment for the filter medium, and a separate sealing assembly adapted to oppose and engage the shoulders to seal the housing and filter medium including =an annular perforate plate with gaskets secured around its inner and outer edge, and a filter element disposed above the perforate plate and having a detent to removably hold it on one of the shoulders, the perforate plate having at least one screw element adapted to connect with the filter element above it to simul taneously function as a securing means and as a handle for removing the said filter element from the housing.

4. In a liquid bath air cleaner, a housing having an open lower end and defining an air passage with an inlet center tube terminating in substantial spaced relation to its lower end and an outlet, a cup removably attached to and closing the open lower end of the housing and defining a liquid sump, a filter medium in the housing above the cup composed of a plurality of separate filter elements around the center tube including, in the order of air flow, at least a coarse scrubber element, a coarse main element, and a fine after filter element, all of the elements being removable through the open lower end of the housing when the cup is removed, at least some of the filter elements each having a tubular extension on one side only constructed to telescope one inside the other to effect a continuation of the inlet center tube, each such filter element being individually connected to the center tube.

5. In a liquid bath air cleaner, a housing having an air passage with an inlet and an outlet, a cup removably attached to the lower end of the housing and defining a liquid sump with a normal liquid level, means for removably attaching the cup to the lower end of the housing, the inlet for the air passage being defined at least in part by a generally upright center tube, a filter medium in the air passage of the housing above the cupl composed of a plurality of separate filter elements, and attaching means for mounting at least some of the filter elements on the center tube, including a stud axially mounted in the center tube and extending below it, the stud having threaded portions with different diameters, and threaded collars centrally located in the filter elements to match the threaded portions oln the stud.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that each threaded collar is rotatably held in a bracket, the bracket being mounted and connected to the filter elements, and wings on each of the collars for actuation thereof.

7. The structure of claim l further characterized in that each threaded collar is rotatably held in a bracket, the bracket being mounted and connected to the filter elements, and wings on each of the collars for actuation thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES` PATENTS 12` Lundberg et al. Apr. 21, 1942 Action Dec. 28, 1943 Taylor Sept. 23, 1952 Beach Feb. 10, 1953 Dreznes Nov. 13, 1956 Lowther May 20, 1958 v FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 1, 1950 

